Information for the public
What has NICE said?
There is not much good evidence about how well this procedure works or how safe it is. But it has the potential to significantly improve patients' quality of life, so it can be used if extra care is taken to explain the risks and extra steps are put in place to record and review what happens.
This procedure should only be done in hospital units that specialise in the care of people with faecal incontinence.
More research on this procedure is needed and NICE may look at it again if more evidence is published.
What does this mean for me?
Your health professional should fully explain what is involved in having this procedure and discuss the possible benefits and risks with you. In particular, they should explain the uncertainty about the evidence on how likely it is to improve your symptoms in the long term, and the risk of complications that may mean the band has to be removed. You should also be told how to find more information about the procedure and about other treatment options. You should only be asked if you want to agree to this procedure after having this discussion.
Your health professional should ask you if details of your procedure can be collected.